Stop the falsehoods. Here are the facts about the Econ Dev Committee.

KevinNSaisi wrote:Any discussion between Phil and Seth is private unless they choose to share it in public.

KevinNSaisi wrote:Phil has no power to control decisions of the EDC nor decisions of the Board od Selectmen. The EDC has no power to spend money. It was made clear at the last Selectman meeting that the support was not financial. Phil Blampied spoke up against the town financially supporting the effort. Why is there so much concern about what Seth may have said to Phil?

KevinNSaisi wrote:If you have posted on this topic without knowing any of the above information, you need to do research before accusing a man of conspiracy/collusion/etc. This is what drives many well-meaning citizens from this forum. If this forum were properly monitored, it would have more than 27 members and people would feel free to discuss things openly without worrying about being attacked. No wonder only a small handful have the integrity to sign their names. If you cannot be accountable for what you say, you probably shouldn't say it

C wrote:I think the suspicion here is that some people in service to the town of Rumford (either elected or volunteer) have a personal interest in the success of the proposed casino. We know Seth Carey as a member of EDC does. How many others on the EDC or town officials will have personal gain, either directly or indirectly, if this does go through? I'm not making any accusations, just clarifying why some could be skeptical about ANY town money being spent on this before the November election.

Phil wrote:

KevinNSaisi wrote:Any discussion between Phil and Seth is private unless they choose to share it in public.

Phil B. didn't say that which would have been acceptable to me and we could have moved on. Instead, Phil B. took the low road and insulted me for asking an honest question which then leads me to believe that there is much more behind the answer then Phil B. wants us to believe.

KevinNSaisi wrote:Phil has no power to control decisions of the EDC nor decisions of the Board od Selectmen. The EDC has no power to spend money. It was made clear at the last Selectman meeting that the support was not financial. Phil Blampied spoke up against the town financially supporting the effort. Why is there so much concern about what Seth may have said to Phil?

I know, for the third time, this has been answered.

KevinNSaisi wrote:If you have posted on this topic without knowing any of the above information, you need to do research before accusing a man of conspiracy/collusion/etc. This is what drives many well-meaning citizens from this forum. If this forum were properly monitored, it would have more than 27 members and people would feel free to discuss things openly without worrying about being attacked. No wonder only a small handful have the integrity to sign their names. If you cannot be accountable for what you say, you probably shouldn't say it

I asked an honest question to learn more about the casino. Thats it. Phil B. starter the thread answering questions made by anonymous posters then takes the low road when pressed with new questions. All fine by me

Lastly, while you use an old dirty political trick of shooting the messenger, the point of all this gets lost. I want FACTS, I don't want to bicker about conspiracies, and blogs and this and that. Its childish. Wanna talk FACTS, fine. Wanna insult and bicker and whatever then I don't want to be a part of it

KevinNSaisi wrote:
Here are the FACTS as I know them:
1> Seth Carey is the head of the Casino effort.
2> His proposal is on the ballot in November due to hard work and a large personal investment by himself and family and friends (non of which I know or believe to be elected or appointed officials except for his father).
3> The proposal has no financial backer at this time, though he is in discussion with a number of experienced comapnies.
4> Due to the lack of a signed contract with an investor, Seth has not established a specific location for the resort because it would put him at a disadvantage in negotiating/attracting an investor.
5> Seth is working hard to assure that the casino is both "green" and located in Rumford, but has to work with investors (who we have established are not yet in place).

If we want this to succeed, we cannot be working against the effort. Questions as to where it will be located and who will run it are irrelevent. Seth has applied for the licence and the proposal has indicated where monies will go. So, this is more of a casino concept decision, rather than a micromanage-the business decision. I find it interesting that so many want to micromanage Seth's efforts, but yell and scream when the Selectmen give direction to a department through the town manager. Truth be told, Seth's operation is a private business being built with private funds. How it runs is none of your business. Where it is located is none of your business. We would all like it to be located in our town, but the reality is that it needs to be located where it will be viable and profitable. Let's approve the concept and let the free enterprise system work.

Phil wrote:

KevinNSaisi wrote:
Here are the FACTS as I know them:
1> Seth Carey is the head of the Casino effort.
2> His proposal is on the ballot in November due to hard work and a large personal investment by himself and family and friends (non of which I know or believe to be elected or appointed officials except for his father).
3> The proposal has no financial backer at this time, though he is in discussion with a number of experienced comapnies.
4> Due to the lack of a signed contract with an investor, Seth has not established a specific location for the resort because it would put him at a disadvantage in negotiating/attracting an investor.
5> Seth is working hard to assure that the casino is both "green" and located in Rumford, but has to work with investors (who we have established are not yet in place).

If we want this to succeed, we cannot be working against the effort. Questions as to where it will be located and who will run it are irrelevent. Seth has applied for the licence and the proposal has indicated where monies will go. So, this is more of a casino concept decision, rather than a micromanage-the business decision. I find it interesting that so many want to micromanage Seth's efforts, but yell and scream when the Selectmen give direction to a department through the town manager. Truth be told, Seth's operation is a private business being built with private funds. How it runs is none of your business. Where it is located is none of your business. We would all like it to be located in our town, but the reality is that it needs to be located where it will be viable and profitable. Let's approve the concept and let the free enterprise system work.

Here are some more FACTS:
1: Seth Carey publically stepped down as head of the casino project because of his personal unethical dealings. What leads you to believe he is the "head" of this project?
2: Seth Carey has paid you money as reported on the PAC report.
3: Seth Carey has received over $135,000 of funding from outside sources. Who are these sources? How much was given? Are they owners? Was it a loan? Is he in debt? Was he given more? How much has Seth made from "investors"????
4: Seth Carey is asking the Maine voters to change the law that would make him a very rich man. this is not a private business as you would like us to believe.
5: Seth Carey faces possible disbarrment or suspension from practicing law because of his immoral/unethical behavior
6: Pat Lamarche, a respected Maine political personality has quit and raised more questions of unethical behavior. She has stated that she would have to or was lying for Seth. Who do we believe?
7: This has about a 0% chance of passing yet Seth goes to the town/citizens/residents and asks for a cash contribution.
8: Most of the "facts" you presented like "Seth is talking to investors, is what I like to call RUMOR. Everyting and anything we know of this project has come out of either Seth Carey's mouth or Pat Lamarche's mouth and she says he cannot be trusted.
9: What large personal investment are you talking about? Do you have any infomrtion that would lead us to believe that Seth and/or his family has put up the majority of money themselves? Another Rumor

Admin wrote:This is a comment from that article:

If you had a really good job you loved but knew your boss had a different opinion than you, would you risk your job to be able to express your opinion? What if that was a relative? Your friend? Your next door neighbor? What if it was simply someone you go to church with that wants to argue with you at the end of each service? Most of us probably don’t go to work, family functions and especially church to argue politics.

3. His investors are his business.

No they are not. This attitude is what has gotten Seth in a ton of hot water. Withholding information and maintaining secrets is what has caused this referedum to lose all credibility. If they are Seth's business then why does he have to report them to the PAC? I ask again, who are these people that might be business owners in the River Valley area? Is Seth indebted to them? If so, will the money he is asking for going to be used to pay off these debts? I think these are all legitimate questions that deserve answering before Nov.

He has to report them because he is running a political campaign, not because he is starting a business. If they are reported, why don't you go look them up??

4. Seth is asking to have a law changed that restricts business so that the state government can run its own gambling monopoly (lottery). It is still a private business, just as it would be if you wanted a law changed to allow you to build a hot dog stand on a floodplane.

So, if I want to visit a casino, I HAVE to choose one run by a lawyer that had his license lost or suspended because of unethical activities? I HAVE to go to a casino who's owner has spend dozens of nites at the local stripper shows and has shown not one ounce of moral character. Imagine if I wanted a pizza and had to buy it from a pizza joint that had health code violations. If not for the monopoly then the free market would allow good, honest hard working businessman to "beat out" lazy, unethical businessman. Seth wants to create a law that says no matter how unethical he is, if you want a pizza you have to buy it from him.

Again, Seth will likely not be running the casino. That is why he is seeking investors. Those investors will need to have the experience to run the casino.

5. Seth's character is not the issue. He will likely not be running any of the business ventures involved.

Oh my god! Well, then who will be the people running it? Will they have lower morals then Seth?

It is none of your business. If you don't like the way it is run, don't work for them or gamble there. All the state requires is that they have the background to be able to run the business effectively within the rules. Seth obviously does not have that background.

6. Pat Lamarche lost much respect with her tantrum. She became upset because Seth couldn't pay her anymore and took out her anger on Seth. Her actions were very immature and unethical (in my opinion).

What facts do you have that could shed any light on this "Seth COULDNT pay her"??? Pat is on record as saying that she found out about Seth's legal problems by reading the newspapers. On Seths PAC report he has thousands and thousands of dollars in expenditures for all kinds of junk. No, what Seth choose to do is stop paying her not because he couldn't but because he WOULDNT.

I tell ya bud, youve been posting some very inaccurate information.

No, this one Seth told me about Pat himself. As for the expenditures, how long do you think all of that money lasts with all of those expenses and paying Lamarche over a grand a week to be spokesperson? It doesn't take a financial genius to realize that he may be running out of money and had to let Lamarche go so that he could spend the money elsewhere.

7. I have heard him ask for contributions, but I have not seen any municipality give him one. Again, Phil Blampied urged the town of Rumford not to contribute to a political campaign, and they didn't.

Why now? Again, Pat L is on recording as saying that investor talks have "broken down". Seth just asked for these donations last week.

This whole thing stinks.

Up until last week I was a supporter, now I will vote no and I will continue to support my community is preventing what I tihnk are low character people from destroying it.

It was unethical for Pat Lamarche to discuss the inner workings of the organization (if it is at all accurate). She has tarnished her reputation and I will not support her for any office.

Admin wrote:Thanks for expressing your opinion Mark. You’re right; we should all be adults and disagree while respecting each others ideals. Unfortunately, some do not behave as adults. Some are quite threatening and downright cruel if you disagree with them. Have you seen this post on the RFP?

Mark_Henry wrote:

Admin wrote:Thanks for expressing your opinion Mark. You’re right; we should all be adults and disagree while respecting each others ideals. Unfortunately, some do not behave as adults. Some are quite threatening and downright cruel if you disagree with them. Have you seen this post on the RFP?

Yes, I read the posting on the RFP several months ago when it first appeared. I do not envy the problems that you have here, or Ms Stowell-Norris encounters with The Rumford Reporter. I still remember the great discussions we used to have on the old
Rumford Forum (anyone else remember that???) before it was forced
closed by the same type of petty attacks and slanderous comments.

My personal inclination, were I to run such a site (which I have no intention of doing) would be to require potential members to register and provide a valid e-mail address before posting. While users would still be able to remain anonymous through a fictitious screen name, they would still be accountable to the forum moderator for their postings. Surely not ideal, but it would reduce this type of viscous, cowardly attacks significantly.

Mark Henry

Mark_Henry wrote:I'm one of the volunteers working with Phil Blampied on the Economic Development Committee. Before the selectmen formed this group I was a member of the Rumford Revitalization Committee (previously the Downtown Revitalization Committee). Phil is a tremendous resource for the Town of Rumford. He invests a significant amount of his personal time in trying to revitalize and energize the local economy, and to my knowledge has never asked for or accepted any compensation for his efforts. I have know many professional "economic developers" in my life, and none have had 1/10th the drive or determination that Phil has.

That being said, several questions have been raised on this board by anonymous posters concerning Mr. Blampied's motivation and throwing aspersions on his moral character. If you truely want to know what Phil and the EDC are doing for/with Rumford why not attend the next EDC meeting? It's open to the public and all are welcome. If you wonder what we've discussed at the two meetings we've held you can get copies of the minutes from Phil - they're very detailed.

If you're wondering about the selectmen or town manager's dealings with Evergreen Mountain Resort/Enterprises then why not ask them? Every Rumford town meeting that I've attended has included a public comments period. Step up to the mic and ask. If you're not a resident (as I am not) you'll need to first ask the selectmen's permission to speak, but I can't see why they would refuse you. If you want to remain anonymous, perhaps you could ask another resident to read a prepared statement for you? I don't know if the selectmen would go for that (I wouldn't in their position) but it's certainly worth a try.

Regards,

Mark Henry

PS - If anyone wants to question my motives or complain about my character feel free. I've been insulted by the best of 'em. But be warned - I'll throw it back twice as hard as it's sent to me.

Murph wrote:Mr. Henry, I am curious to know how you came about being on this committee when you're not even a citizen of this town. Shouldn't those positions be reserved for people who are citizens of the Town of Rumford?

Dave wrote:In my humble opinion, $90,000 would be better spent with a paid professional economic development professional than an enthusiastic, but naive group of interested citizens.